If you wanted to dissect the structure of living cells, genetic analysis was an extremely powerful method, so my interest turned to that. Joshua Lederberg More Quotes by Joshua Lederberg More Quotes From Joshua Lederberg By the time I was 12 or 13, I was studying biochemistry textbooks. Joshua Lederberg biochemistry textbooks study A Swedish newspaper reporter called and said, You've been awarded the Prize. I was quite sure it was a practical joke. Joshua Lederberg newspaper-reporters newspapers said I certainly saw science as a kind of calling, and one with as much legitimacy as a religious calling. Joshua Lederberg saws religious calling I believe I am a person with unusual talents. I think I'd be a liar or stupid if I were to deny that. Joshua Lederberg stupid liars believe I did get a very fine education, and not just in science. It took some pressure on the part of my elders to convince me that I really should take an interest in humanities. Joshua Lederberg should humanity pressure Everybody has to learn for the first time. Joshua Lederberg first-time firsts When I was in high school, I became interested in cytochemistry: chemical analysis under the microscope, and trying to understand the composition of cells. Joshua Lederberg cells trying school Although I am a public figure, I'm still a little shy. I don't think my own personality is important. I prefer to keep some small dosage of privacy. Joshua Lederberg important personality thinking My ambitions were already very clearly fixed by the time I was 6 or 7. Joshua Lederberg my-ambition fixed ambition I started on the use of the Internet for scientific communication. Our research group was one of the very first to make really systematic use of it as a way of managing research projects. Joshua Lederberg groups communication use If we have isolated individuals able to inflict enormous harm, imagine what a single lunatic can do with a nuclear weapon. I think the whole base of civil society is at risk. Joshua Lederberg risk able thinking I was reading five or six years ahead of my grade during public school. I was pretty bored. I made a contract with some of my teachers that if I didn't ask too many questions, I could work in the back of the room. Joshua Lederberg teachers reading work school I was making a lot of momentous personal decisions. I was still very very young: when the prize was awarded, I was 33; the work I had done when I was 21. Joshua Lederberg decisions personal done work Life's a hobby. Joshua Lederberg hobby life